Michelle Durkin, BSc

The skin is the largest organ of the body and the most visible. Ironically its importance in health promotion can be easily overlooked, especially in elderly patients. Because the skin is the first line of defense against infection, disease, and injury, proper skin care is always important. As the skin ages, however, the importance of its care increases, because structural changes occur which are responsible for compromised skin functioning (see Table 1) and a transformation in appearance (see related article on the aging skin: Wrinkles, Age-spots and Spider Veins Primary Aesthetic Concerns).